LISTEN: Regina - "Haluan sinut" + "Jos et sä soita"

How charming is this Finnish trio? Really charming, if you ask me. Singer Iisa Pykäri coos from a cloud of dream pop over an energetic bit of twee pop. It's got just enough punch to it to make it especially infectious -- even if you have no idea what Pykäri is singing. And maybe it's because I don't speak Finnish, but not knowing what these songs are about make them all the more intriguing and exciting. Even if they're about the heart shattering into little pieces, it all sounds fun and delightful.

LISTEN: Satellite Stories

Satellite Stories - "Kids Aren't Safe In the Metro"


Satellite Stories might be from Oulu, Finland, but they nail that danceable garage rock sound that's become a signature of the UK. The band claims a desire to be a shot of nostalgia; they aim to be a snapshot of the better moments in life, like your first kiss or the time you learned what "love" truly meant. In the rapidity of their music, Satellite Stories embody the passage of time. We all pause every now and again to reflect on all that has occurred in our lives. It’s then that we realize how quickly life goes by; days become seconds and weeks become minutes. By recollecting the memorable moments in breakneck speed, these four gentlemen express, and reveal, this inconspicuous, brisk pace that progresses life.

The band cites The Wombats, Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, and Phoenix as influences. These bands pretty much sum up Satellite Stories' sound.

Check out two more songs after the hop.